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GET RUNNING HOT WATER, NOT HIGH RUNNING COSTS

December 15th, 2009 No comments

Water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average home (excluding the family car).It’s also power hungry, using up to 35% of a home’s energy. 
The cost of installing and running a solar hot water system is less than most people realise.  The fact is, solar hot water systems generally pay for themselves within two years from installation and then the real savings start adding up.
A solar hot water system can save up to 90% of an average household’s hot water energy requirements.It can also save up to 3.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions from an average household per year.There are factors to consider such as the direction of the roof, quality and location, but in essence, the sun can provide the bulk of the energy requirements for domestic hot water.Conventional gas or electricity sources can make up any shortfall.  
The cost of electricity is growing and there is greater emphasis on finding renewable energy sources.When one counts the cost that generating electricity has on the environment, the argument for solar power is even more convincing.
Solar hot water has been the subject of massive technological development in recent times.  Consumers now have a choice between roof or ground-mounted systems, which are suitable for any weather conditions from below freezing to the harshest desert heat.
Solar hot water can be installed anywhere, new buildings and old.It is a relatively simple process to replace an electric hot water system, and many governments around the world are encouraging and incentivising householders to do so.
In Australia for example, eligible property owners, landlords and tenants are rewarded with generous government rebates when they replace their electric storage hot water systems with solar.The Australian Government is currently offering a 600 rebate per eligible installation of solar hot water to help people reduce greenhouse gas emissions.It is currently estimated that the average family can reduce their annual energy bill by up to seven hundred dollars by installing a solar system.  
Perth solar hot water company, Solar MyWorld, have experienced a huge increase in demand for their systems since Government announced the rebates.The company says people are making lifestyle adjustments to meet growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, and they have seen a consequent increase in demand.  
A study commissioned by the Australian Government, ‘Energy Use in the Australian Residential Sector 1986-2020 projected a 56% increase in residential sector energy consumption from 1990 – 2020.Water heating was the only major energy use predicted to decline over the study period, predominantly due to Government and State energy programmes.Water heating energy use reached a peak in 2002 at 92.4 petajoules (PJ) and is anticipated to decline slowly to 8.5PJ by 2020. 
Solar hot water is one of the simplest lifestyle changes that people can make. There are no reasons not to go this route.It is both cost-effective and low maintenance and on top of that, is kind to the environment too.Plus, a solar hot water system that has been correctly installed using quality parts should last at least a quarter of a century.That should warm you up!

What You Need To Think About With Recycling

November 28th, 2009 No comments

Have you ever wondered if what recycling facts are accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on how recycling affects the environment.

Recycling metal does not just include recycling aluminium cans. Types of recycled metal The two most common recycled metals at the present time are aluminium and steel. Recycling is not a place to make money, but it can save money if it is done with the long term in mind. So the purchase of recycling receptacles should be done in a responsible and long term manner to show your business as one who cares for the planet’s future and its own future. Recycling as much of our material waste as possible is one way each of us can make a difference. The State of Oregon has set a goal of recycling 64% of the waste stream by the year 2009.

Plastics production also involves the use of potentially harmful chemicals, which are added as stabilizers or colorants. Many of these have not undergone environmental risk assessment and their impact on human health and the environment is currently uncertain. Plastic is a problem, and most people realize why. It is not going to go away: because natural processes will never be able to break it down.

The information about recycling facts here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about how recycling affects the environment or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Plastic bags are used to make plastic lumber, but they get caught and tangled in the bottle recycling machines. Margarine tubs and other wide-necked plastic products with 1′s and 2′s on them are injection-molded , not blow-molded, like milk jugs are. Plastic is beneficial as it creates a high rate of btu’s (generating a lot of heat) higher heat equals more generation for electricity. The Ames Resource Recovery plant is one of the few in the U.S., it means less trash much less!

Recycled pulp can be bleached with the same chemicals used to bleach virgin pulp, but hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydrosulfite are the most common bleaching agents. Recycling centers and landfills across the country are preparing for a surge of unwanted sets in coming months. Next February, most TV broadcasts will be available only in digital form.

When new products are manufactured from virgin materials, the amount of energy consumed is much higher. Besides, the energy required to acquire and transport the virgin raw materials from their origins or natural sources is also saved. Now, you need not try hard over locating that mobile shop, giving you the right cash for your used and old mobile phone. With phone recyclers, you can situate the shop where you can buy and sell mobile phone round the clock, anywhere which can give you the best rates for your used hand phone! New engine oil made from recycled oil meets the standards used in the industry lubrication industry. According to the American Petroleum Institute, re-refined oil is of as high a quality as a virgin oil product.

There’s a lot to understand about how recycling affects the environment. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

Bobby Montgomery is the author of this article. EnergySavingSite.info considers the question how does recycling affect the environment and offers information on recycling facts